Mazda CX-9 Truck of the Year - Better than the Tahoe?

The Mazda CX-9 was named Truck of the Year today by a jury of 47 automotive journalists representing a range of media outlets. The USNews & World Report large SUV rankings, which are also based on all the top auto journalists around the country, have the Chevy Tahoe ranked #1 while they have the USNews Mazda CX-9 ranking as being #2. What's up here? Which is better?

personally don't see how the CX-9 and Tahoe even compete... the CX-9 vs the Acadia is more likely to me... both of those two are car based CUVs... the Tahoe is a Truck based SUV... lots of differences. In those situations I always figure that the criteria in the end demanded that a car-like vehicle was more to the likening of the judges. I can go for that... but I'll stick with my Tahoe.
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Wait a second, how did the Enclave and CX-9 even get into that category...They are CUVs. Also, how did the Chrysler Town & Country get in it too? If it was best truck (I wasn't paying attention), it should've been the Taho 2-mode...I'd still choose an Expedition though. Meh.

I too, find it amazing that the TOTY winner isn't even a real truck. But I guess it's a sign of the times since so many other aspects of our lives have different meanings now, too. Nothing anymore means what it once meant. It's the Anti-domestic shills' attempts to ensure domestics never receive their due. I mean, we build a truck to the letter, and what do they do? Change the criteria to accomodate whatever their preferences are. I mean nothing to date accomplishes the role of a TRUCK like GM, Ford, or Dodge, yet, the Tundra is picked because it's faster to 60 mph. WAFJ.

I'm not going to get all crabby and say the Mazda didn't deserve the win. Is it a truck/SUV? I guess so... if the Jeep Cherokee could have a unibody, so can anything. But the hybrid tech on the Tahoe is pretty impressive. I'm guessing it was pretty close.
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"If you're wondering how the robot-like march of the world's politicians towards Copenhagen can possibly continue in the face of 'Climategate,' it's because Big Government, Big Business and Big Green doesn't give a **** about 'the science'" -Lorrie Goldstein

YahforSeth:I prefer the CX-9 over the Tahoe. Sure, the Tahoe is one amazing peice of technology but it has a heavy premium price. I agree, they both carry 7 passenger but the V-8 Tahoe needs more gas to do that.
_________________________________________________________________________2010 Spice Red Jetta 2.5 5 speed manual

According to today's Detroit Free Press, Mazda (which in turn means Ford, which has the contolling interest in Mazda) may be able to use this award to its advantage. I'd still stick with the Tahoe, however.

"While the award -- determined by the votes of more than 40 automotive journalists -- doesn't necessarily translate to sales, it can be a useful marketing tool for automakers looking to prove they are committed to design and quality excellence."

"While it is Mazda's priciest vehicle, the CX-9 is part of the rapidly growing new segment of crossovers. Mazda sold 25,566 CX-9s in the first year of production. "The CX-9 was designed for North America. This award is recognition that the team delivered on that promise," said Robert Graziano, executive vice president for Mazda, in which Ford Motor Co. has a controlling interest."

It never ceases to amaze me that magazines are perfectly willing to call station wagons trucks. Why? Because they need to have their noses firmly up the butts of marketers and will buy into whatever nonsense they're willing to spew.
-------------------------------------------Bad decisions make good stories.